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dennyc

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Everything posted by dennyc

  1. Aye, a real shame. Liverpool and Leeds offered him terms to join their Academies and Motherwell were happy with what was proposed compensation wise. Went to train with Liverpool for a couple of weeks prior to deciding who to join, but suffered a bad injury whilst down there. Motherwell stuck by him, hoping he could get back to something like his best. It was encouraging when he made the bench last season......maybe featured once? Sadly his time with us has now come to an end. Good luck to the lad. The damage to his career due to injury at such a young age highlights why it is difficult for youth players to refuse a move when offered attractive terms elsewhere. Nobody knows what is round the corner.
  2. Nothing at all to do with "The big team I support". Trotting out that response is akin to the rabid nonsense that is rolled out from both ends of Glasgow. It is about the lack of factual reporting by the Media, incompetent refereeing (which this thread is about) coupled with selective use of VAR, and the fact that nobody is prepared to challenge those issues or hold the Authorities to account. I very much doubt that any Motherwell fan has a soft spot for either Rangers or Celtic, especially if they have attended any matches against either, home or away. Anybody who does not recognise the vile atmosphere they create is either in denial or deaf and blind. Then again, the Motherwell fan in front of me at Easter Road who regularly shouted out "Dirty f****n Bastard" does make me wonder. I do share your hope for an Old Firm free football environment though. Sadly that is never going to happen even if a European Super League with both in it is established. Our lords and masters would ensure both could field B Teams in the Premiership. I suspect our Board, or any other, would not raise any objections. That seed has already been sown.
  3. To be clear, I think the fans/officials of Rangers and Celtic are equally obsessed when it comes to conspiracy theories and I also think both Clubs benefit from refereeing decisions as a result. But I do think MJC has a fair point when he states that Celtic are way ahead of the rest when it comes to manipulating the media and utilising their influence across all aspects of Scottish football. An example I keep hearing that the penalty Rangers conceded against Kilmarnock was the first domestic penalty they have conceded this season. Even the BBC headline still reads "Rangers concede first penalty since Jan 2022". That is just not true. Domestically they have conceded 3 penalties this season, and 1 was in a Cup Semi Final where Shankland scored. So it was not a nothing game. Fans too often are happy to accept what the media say without question and this forum is no different. Only one top team in Scotland has not conceded a domestic penalty this season and that is Celtic. Not that you would believe that fact given their recent media comments. And I don't see it reported anywhere in the media that it is 23 league games since Celtic last conceded a penalty. The closest run to that is St Johnstone on 13 games. We are on 3. This during a stretch where Celtic's American full back seems to think he is playing Basketball rather than football. Taylor is not much better. So media reporting and wording is very selective and manipulative. I wonder why? Regards the Rangers incident. Of course it was not a penalty because of an offside in the immediate build up. Nobody in their right mind would argue any differently. But Rangers are correct in saying that Collum inexplicably decided there was no hand ball offence and then awarded a goal kick. If he had correctly ruled there had been a hand ball, procedures would have kicked in and the offside discovered then and there. So no penalty and an offside free kick awarded instead. The Authorities elected to ignore Collum's incompetence and midway through the second half announced the offside finding, which appears like an attempt at justification. No acknowledgement of any error. The questions Rangers are asking are why did Collum not award a handball and thereafter follow laid down procedures? I believe they are entitled to pose those questions. The deflection tactics introduced to avoid addressing those issues are insulting and reflect badly on Scottish football. And that disregard is nothing new. Remember the penalty we were denied against Aberdeen when Lamie's shirt was almost ripped off but the VAR had gone home for the day? Instead of decrying Rangers for demanding answers, fans, Club Officials and especially the Media should be asking the same questions. Only then might we see an improvement and balance in refereeing standards. It won't happen though and the refereeing inconsistency will continue as will the carefully placed media comments which heap more pressure on the Officials to think twice about penalising certain teams.
  4. For me O'Donnell was our best defender yesterday and but for him Hibs could have had the game won in the first 30 minutes. On at least three occasions he was the one making last gasp clearances. And he would have performed far better right side defensively than out of position Spittal. McGinn too, but he is doing fine a bit more central so I get him starting there. First half Hibs tore us apart down that right hand side. I lost count of the number of times the ball was fired across our six yard box with Hibs failing to get on the end of it. Settled down a bit after that when Spittal was pushed further up the pitch. Then again it was from that area that the cross that led to the equaliser came from. Spencer's distribution in recent games left a lot to be desired with very few crosses getting beyond the first defender. Defensively he can be replaced.
  5. Or that were made when the players were ready. When Davor first appeared he looked slow and out of his depth. Admittedly only with limited first team game time. When Gent first appeared he did well going forward providing decent crosses, but was woefully short defensively. Both players now look much improved in all areas and now deserve their place in the team.
  6. From what I saw SK was consoling a distraught Gent at the end of the game, right in front of the away support. And Gent did not react in a way that suggested any harsh words came from the manager.
  7. Do you think Kettlewell had any part to play in our survival?
  8. So, again, you give no credit to Kettlewell or any other players for the turn around last season. And let's just ignore the credit KVV gave his fellow players and Manager for his run of goals. And let's just ignore that KVV was one of the players that got us in the mess in the first place. I like your balance though. Anything the team achieves is down to the players. Anything the team does not achieve is down to the Manager.
  9. Fair point. Can you remind folk that Kettlewell deserves some praise for yesterday.
  10. Why can we not just give Kettlewell the credit he deserves for yesterday? We even had the sour grapes "the PLAYERS deserve credit". Clearly a positive for Kettlewell was a step too far for some. Acknowledgement grudgingly given at best. Depressingly I get the sense a few folk even wanted us to lose yesterday, just to justify their assault. I admit I did have doubts when I saw his team selection but he and the players made it work and proved me wrong. Even with Shaw contributing next to nothing, the fact he fielded three forwards created the space that Biereth and Bair took advantage of. That set up was down to Kettlewell and in such a critical game he carried the day. Accept it and hope the upturn in results continues. I don't know if Kettlewell will survive to next season. Nobody does. But to suggest a new Board would not renew his contract under any circumstances is ridiculous. It is quite clear that even if our January signings work out, we have a decent cup run and secure our top league status, Kettlewell's detractors will still shout loudest....until they get to move on to their next target when he eventually goes. We managed an important victory yesterday and head to Easter Road in a more positive mood. I think that is a good thing but sadly it feels like some don't think that way.
  11. They let folk with bags from the Club shop so I don't see why there would be an issue. The steward outside the turnstile will probably have a look through it though. Especially given our reputation regards pyros. A quick phone call to the office should clear the way just to be sure. Or give you an option.
  12. Burrows, with the support of Motherwell, contacted the SPFL requesting that the game be postponed given the weather and hazardous road conditions. Although Motherwell had travelled up this morning and the pitch was playable, all parties felt it was unfair asking both sets of fans to travel. Our lords and masters sat on a decision for hours and only gave their agreement when photographs of the road conditions were placed online. By not travelling down, County short circuited the process and well done to them for that. Would not surprise me if they receive a yellow card for their cheek. Boards across Scotland should be asking questions of Doncaster and his pals, but I bet they don't.
  13. Knowing Celtic it will be as little as possible. They are good at building in massive add-ons when they are sellers.....Frimpong could net them a fortune just like Van Dijk and others did. However when they are the buyers it's a different matter. I guess that's good practice for them but it is galling that they can dictate terms up here. I hope I am wrong but I'm not holding my breath looking for a fantastic payday. Whereas the Turnbull terms were not revealed, it is public knowledge that Celtic have a 30% add on with Frimpong that could net them around £10m as he looks to be heading to England from Germany for about £50m. Crazy money.
  14. Well said. Spot on. Vigurs is the classic example. Took us for a ride and well rid.. But if I recall correctly his goal was a volley following a corner to the edge of the box. An amazing piece of skill. So some folk who can appreciate such skill did applaud. Does not mean the goal did not hurt them or that they betrayed the Club. I didn't applaud by the way, but I did go "Wow!"
  15. Why does applauding a player who has served the Club well suggest to you they are placing that player above the Club? That is just out and out nonsense. it is showing respect to someone who brought them enjoyment in our colours. I have not met one fan who would put an opposition player above the interest of Motherwell FC. To suggest someone who does applaud is letting the Club down is as disrespectful to them as you say they are being to the Club
  16. The dilemma for me is that we are having the worst run points wise I can recall, even in comparison to the play off year where we trounced Rangers. I've deleted Kampman and Hynd from my memory banks. But performances during this spell are far from the worst I have seen, and are not as hard a watch as games under Hammell and Alexander were towards the end. Despite what some like to promote on here, the players have not downed tools, appear as united as they can be under the circumstances and are still with Kettlewell. Also off field factors outside Kettlewell's control are impacting his ability to turn things round. On the other hand, his transfer dealings have been poor although here again restraints placed upon him limit the quality of player he can recruit. Also looking to his team selection at Dingwall and his substitutions in the past couple of months suggest to me that he his running out of ideas given the resources available. So, could anyone else who would be willing or available to come to our Club do any better given the circumstances? I just don't know to be honest but I have my doubts. Anybody who is available has likely failed elsewhere or been out of the game for a while. I don't think the likes of Murray at Raith Rovers would jump ship for us at this time. Those screaming for Kettlewell to go have either not come up with a realistic solution or have copped out of making a suggestion, even though that would add to the discussion taking place on a fan forum. All in all I am about 55/45 for staying with Kettlewell for now which I think is possibly how a lot of fans feel. What we do not know is whether the Club and Kettlewell have had discussions regards the transfer window and if plans are in place. Then again we also don't know for sure what funds are available for recruitment or possibly changing the Management team. I do think a loss to Livi will see him go as this run cannot be allowed to drift on. But I'm far from convinced it will make any difference. I guess I will just have to trust our Board, which in itself does not give me any comfort
  17. The May 2022 Accounts did say we had around £4m is cash Reserves. That after incurring a £1m loss compared to a £3m profit the season before (Exceptional transfer and performance income perhaps?). So yes you would hope a good proportion of that kitty is still available. But those 2022 Accounts did suggest we had moved into a loss making position. Since those Accounts were released a significant amount has been spent on Stadium improvements/repairs, pitch upgrades, employee/manager contract pay offs, player recruitment (last January panic buying!) and ever increasing running costs. Not all of those outgoings would have been forseen and budgeted for. Allied to reduced income from poorer onfield performance. The financial situation revealed when the May 2023 Accounts are issued may confirm we still have millions in the Bank. I hope we do but I have my doubts. Then we have these words from the statement issued by the Club when the Board departures were announced. “It has become very clear over the last few years that for the club to operate on a sustainable basis, provide the manager with a competitive player budget, meet the vastly increased cost of our other activities including having a successful Woman’s Team and maintaining a fit for purpose Stadium, Training Ground and Academy facility, that it will require significant investment; funding on a similar scale to that received by many others in the SPFL." That does not sound like a minimal shortfall to me. Bottom line. If we are not operating on a sustainable basis, then those funds held in reserve will quickly reduce. Let's see what the 2023 Accounts reveal. Also, with no access to Loan funds, it is essential that we maintain some level of funds in reserve to cover unforeseen events. A hopefully never required safety net. I do hope you are correct though and significant funds are available in January. We certainly need a decent transfer window.
  18. Oh, I'm not suggesting we continue to do the same thing. Far from it. Recruitment and structure wise, I think it is quite clear I am disappointed with how we have performed and it needs to change for the better. But to my reading some on here are getting hung up on history and not addressing the present. We've signed Josh Morris, Theo Bair etc and that was poor. But that is done we need to let that go, learn, adjust our approach and sort the present. On and off the pitch. My concern is that because of the previous direction, we are not in a good position to address the current deficiencies on the pitch. My question to Steelboy was to ask him how we are to fund the player recruitment everybody agrees is required. It is a valid question. I am not convinced funds are available for what we require......hopefully I am wrong in that.....and I have heard nothing from the Club this season that suggests otherwise. The only practical solution I can come up with is to sell Kelly and Miller, if that is even possible looking to injury and form. Dickie's panic press release was pretty vague, waffle in fact. You have come up with several innovative, workable proposals which I wish the Club would get in touch with you to discuss. And it may be that those suggestions could be implemented at minimal cost. Certainly worth exploring as soon as possible. But as for player recruitment, how do we fund actual player purchases in January whilst we are burdened with existing contracts and little income? It is ok saying bring in a striker, a midfielder, wingers but how to we do that....urgently? Other changes hopefully will be implemented, but our form and league position makes on field performance the priority. On and off field go hand in hand I agree but we desperately need to rescue our season in the here and now.. And keep on typing those essays. I enjoy reading a lot of the sense you bring to the table. You clearly care about our Club and looking for solutions.
  19. Rectifying our current situation is not about how we recruited well or or badly in the past. Yes, recruitment and decision making has been terrible at times and has likely cost us thousands. So that must be addressed before any more resources are wasted. I agree. But the now is about how we afford new players at this moment in time. To improve our current situation So that is my concern. You suggest numerous positions that require improvement but seem to assume finance is not an issue. Despite the BBC report regarding the clarification statement, looking at what Dickie actually said makes sufficient funding less certain to my mind. Hopefully I am wrong and worrying for no reason. All he really needed to say was "Yes", rather than qualifying his response with imagine, some and if. BBC Asked if boss Stuart Kettlewell would be able to make additions to his squad next month, Dickie replied: "I would imagine there will be some money available for the manager if that's his decision."
  20. My question was about how you would fund the recruitment of the players to fill the positions you quoted. I agree we need upgrades but cannot see how we find the funds required.
  21. And how are we to afford that recruitment? Anyone who is surprised by this latest turn of events is not living in the real world. Money talks and the noises coming out of the Club for ages have been depressingly consistent. Without player sales we do not generate enough income to sustain our current position. Even with those sales, cup runs and a good league placement are a requirement.. And to achieve those on field successes you need to generate the funds to invest in decent players and limit the number of player purchases that don’t work out as hoped. How has that worked out of late? Questions certainly need to be asked on that score. With only 3500 Members, not all contributing and with no big business or private investment, how on earth are we to generate enough income to compete at the current level? That’s the reality of the situation. As the quality of the squad diminishes, so does the possibility of player sales, youth investment and income from on field success. Our initial successes under fan ownership and the Turnbull sale only delayed the decline. And I say that as someone who signed up to the Society. I really hope and pray the investment initiative that is mentioned is successful otherwise I see us dropping to a level, on and off the field, that is sustainable. Just guessing, but I suspect the initiative will involve a share issue with fans and local businesses being asked to dig deep. Maybe a Save the ‘Well plea like happened with Hearts. Given the economic situation I think either would be a massive challenge. The only solution I see is private investment with the Society model being scrapped. Who is going to invest millions in the Club without being given a controlling interest, even if they invest without any real hope of financial return? Fan Ownership sounds fantastic and attracts lots of plaudits but clearly it requires more than Motherwell can offer. Worrying times.
  22. This season agreed. But he did a good job last season. His will to win lifted us on numerous occasions. But like a good few others he has disappointed this season.
  23. Ouch. Obviously affected me more than I realised.
  24. Butcher, Casey and Furlong included? I thought those three saved our season along with Van Veen. But I agree the other signings were rotten. I was saying I did not think we had the scope to sign a shitload of players in the hope that 3 or 4 worked out.
  25. Oh that we were able to. The bench line up on Sunday shocked me. Mika is a shining light and maybe the fact such a raw youngster stands out speaks volumes for where we are at. He would be even better if did not have to carry the rest of the team on his shoulders. And was able to devote all his energy to what he excels at. Whatever happens this season I expect to see a massive turnover in the Summer. Finances will likely dictate the quality of those changes. If only Turnbull could move for a huge fee in January the add ons might enable us to address issues earlier. (Clutching at straws there) Without that bonus I cannot see a January recruitment like last season.
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